I use the CMS Wordpress for many websites because this is free of charge and because customers can make changes to the website themselves after a short introduction. I recently switched to the WordPress alternative though Webflow encountered, which looks quite interesting. Webflow is a bit like Jimdo or Wix, but from my point of view much more powerful and convenient to use. Therefore the question now arises: which content management system is better? How does the comparison of WordPress vs. Webflow turn out? Here you read my assessment.
TL; DR: View the WordPress alternative here
Chapter in this post:
- 1 WordPress hurdle: updates for system and plugins
- 2 The big advantage of WordPress: Plugin selection for everything
- 3 Comparison of WordPress by Webflow
- 4 Webflow is ideal for everyone who “just wants a website”
- 5 “Big” websites and blogs are also possible
- 6 My conclusion on the comparison of Webflow and WordPress
- 7 Similar posts
WordPress hurdle: updates for system and plugins
If you use WordPress, you have to update the system every now and then and also get updates for the installed plugins. If you use the CMS free of charge or in a small hosting package, this means additional work in addition to the other website maintenance; If you book an update service - for example from Strato or another service provider - it costs money. In some cases, the costs for the WordPress update service already correspond to an entire webflow package. So here it is important to see whether you really need WordPress or whether Webflow is not the better service with the more attractive price-performance ratio.
The big advantage of WordPress: Plugin selection for everything
Although they have to be kept up to date either manually or via a paid service, plugins are also the great strength of WordPress. Anyone who wants to use more than just a simple website, a standard blog or the unadjusted backend can implement all possible functions, options and abbreviations with such an extension. In this way, websites, shops, blogs and more web offers can be individually designed without having to have a lot of knowledge of programming or web design. But here, too, there is a downer: the plugins are often poorly programmed and may have security gaps or at least make the website slower.
Comparison of WordPress from Webflow
As you can see, WordPress is both a blessing and a curse - sometimes more, sometimes less, depending on the individual project. Detached from this, however, you can also set a few fixed points that can be used to compare the two systems. This will also give you a better picture of Webflow.
WordPress | Webflow | |
Create your own design | Existing themes can be used and adapted using plugins or your own coding; Knowledge of HTML and PHP is often a prerequisite for larger adjustments | There are also free and “premium” templates here, but you can redesign them quite intuitively without knowing PHP and HTML (cf. modular principle) |
Search engine optimization (SEO) | Not possible from the start; you need at least one plugin like YoastSEO to do good SEO | SEO options are included as Webflow is made for the modern internet |
User friendliness in the CMS dashboard | You have to get into it and adapt it with plugins; but it offers options that are irrelevant to most | The dashboard is kept rather minimal; With Webflow, on-page editing of the website is in the foreground |
Code quality | Generally good - the more (semi-professional, free) plugins are used, the worse | Webflow works fine without plugins and the code is designed for efficiency |
SSL certificates | You have to book SSL yourself with your hosting provider and then implement it in Wordpress | Free SSL on all pages and constant checking for security gaps |
Side security | in Wordpress, the plugins are often a security hole through which hackers penetrate | Since Webflow is not open source and is automatically secured by its technician, there is little chance for hackers here |
E-mail functionality is usually included with the hosting provider and can be set up there | here you have to use an external e-mail provider such as Zoho or GSuite, as Webflow does not have any mail servers | |
Support | There is, but a lot is resolved through community requests, which can lead to delays | FAQs, forum, contact form, social media and more |
Webflow is ideal for anyone who “just wants a website”
Many companies or individuals want a website but are not familiar with creating or maintaining it. Why also? You are probably in a completely different subject and your job description has nothing to do with web design, coding or SEO.
And who of us nerds and geeks does not know the sentence “You know your way around computers, can you make me a website?” - it is correspondingly more formal when customers ask you to create a website. And it is precisely for such cases that Webflow seems to me to be a powerful tool. If someone wants an easy-to-use website, blog, shop or the like without having to deal with plugins, updates and backends, why not Webflow?
Have a look here: Official website of the provider
“Big” websites and blogs are also possible
However, because of its ease of use, Webflow should not be downgraded to a simple web construction kit. You can already see from their references that complex and extensive websites are possible with Webflow: Facebook, Twitter, Dell, CBS, MTV and many others use the system for some of their projects.
Webflow also offers a CMS functionality that can also be used to create blogs. There are numerous templates for this that are aimed directly at it.
My conclusion on the comparison of Webflow and WordPress
I think I will create the next websites for customers in Webflow, as WordPress is more likely to develop its advantages if you work with plugins for certain functions. If something like that is not needed, you don't have to put on the other stress that WP brings with it.
There are certainly still enough website projects for which Webflow's lack of freely developed plugins is more of an obstacle. Therefore I can only say in summary that there is no CMS winner for me, but that there is a tendency towards Webflow for the task under consideration here. As always, you have to consider the individual case in order to then decide which CMS offers the right advantages and functions.
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Jens has been running the blog since 2012. He acts as Sir Apfelot for his readers and helps them with technical problems. In his spare time he rides electric unicycles, takes photos (preferably with the iPhone, of course), climbs around in the Hessian mountains or hikes with the family. His articles deal with Apple products, news from the world of drones or solutions to current bugs.
Great report!
I'm currently diving into Webflow (yeah, it takes a lot of training, but it's definitely worth it!) And I'm thrilled. I am a complete newcomer to web development, but I can get by with a lot of patience. And now after 2 simple one-page websites, I feel pretty safe. So, absolutely doable.
You didn't mention one thing here: the speed. Webflow websites are super slim and fast.
Am thrilled!
Yes, that's right. The page speed in Wordpress is quickly in the basement if you (like me) use a bit many plugins and an old theme. But I couldn't realize my blog with Webflow. There are so many individual stories that can probably only be realized with Wordpress. But for a service provider website or a small blog, Webflow is definitely a great thing.